Antigone Paper

Fong Vang
Peifer
10 IB
11/26/08

Antigone- guilty or innocent

In the Greek play of Antigone, Antigone the daughter of Oedipus and sister of Ismene. Was found guilty for breaking one of Creon’s fierce laws. “Yes. I’ll do my duty to my brother—and yours as well, if you’re not prepared to. I won’t be caught betraying him”(Sophocles, 56-58). In this quote Antigone wishes to break one of Creon’s rule without him knowing. Also by burying her brother that has betrayed our country just to be king, she intends to give Polyneices a proper burial even though Creon noted to not bury him, and anyone who dare break his rule shall be punished. “Anyone who acts against the order
will be stoned to death before the city”(Sophocles, 43-44). She even persuaded her only family member left to help her do her doings. “Will you help these hands take up Polyneices’ corpse and bury it?”(Sophocles, 55-56). She tells her sister to help her, knowing that probably if both of them did it there will be less consequences. But on the other hand Ismene rejects the offer and rather follow the rule. Antigone will do what is right for herself rather then follow the rules that apply to all mankind. She thinks of respect but why doesn’t she respect others? All that is being done here is making her more known, she is one of the most respected but yet hated. Antigone is guilty of burying her brother and breaking a law, we have proof of her being caught “This here’s the one who carried out the act. We caught her as she was burying the corpse. Where’s Creon?”(Sophocles, 432-434). This surely proves Antigone guilty of breaking the laws that Creon has made. There for Antigone daughter of Oedipus, sister of Ismene is guilty of breaking Creon’s laws of justice.

Work Cited

Sophocles. "Antigone" The Internet Classics Archive. Trans. R.C. Jebb. 04 Oct. 2000. classics.mit.edu 25 Nov 2008